FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 21, 2004
Contact: Josh Freed
(202) 225-4431

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO), the co-Chair of the Bi-partisan Pro-Choice Caucus, released the following prepared statement regarding the introduction of the Putting Prevention First Act:
America faces a real challenge. Despite all of our advances, we continue to have the highest number of unintended pregnancies and the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases in the industrialized world.

We are here today as Members of the Congressional Bipartisan Pro-Choice Caucus because we hold dear the protection of every facet of a woman’s reproductive health. This includes protecting all their reproductive choices and health before as well as after pregnancy.
Now, everyone knows that a woman’s legal right to choose is increasingly under attack in this country. What every man and woman may not know, but should, is that a woman’s right to reproductive education and health care is also under attack.

As the strongest supporters in this Congress of protecting women’s reproductive health, we are introducing the Putting Prevention First Act because it empowers women to make educated decisions.
By providing better access to health care information and health services, we can prevent unintended pregnancies, reduce the transmission of STDs and, in some cases, even save women’s lives.

This is the crux of the debate. If the so-called “right to life” Members of Congress really cared about protecting women and their families, preventing unintended pregnancies thus reducing the number of abortions, they would have introduced legislation like this a long time ago.
Unfortunately, too many of them are concerned only with scoring ideological points, not protecting women’s health as they loudly claim and helping them make the right choices for themselves and their families.

Only by improving education, by increasing access to contraception, by bettering prenatal health care, and by expanding health care options for women can we reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and reduce sexually transmitted diseases.
We have introduced this bill to promote these vital issues that get paid too much lip service and see too little action.

This legislation should appeal to our colleagues on the other side of the issue because it would accomplish so many of the things they claim to support. It is a challenge we issue to them today.
 

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